Is it ok to spank our roo?

[Pele]

Quote:
I don't believe you are being smart-alecky, and I respect your point of view. I just know what has worked for me personally, so this isn't coming from some overly sensitive and weirdo point of view.

All I know is:

If I do anything to scare or hurt my roosters, they learn to fear and hate me. Fear triggers certain instincts in roosters that often lead to violence. If it didn't, we'd have a lot less roosters dead from fighting off predators to save the flock. If you make yourself a source of fear, you will be attacked. There is no new-aged mindreading involved, just understanding the animal you are working with. You wouldn't smack a lion on the nose like you would a dog, it triggers a different reaction because they're different animals.

If I raise my roosters from day one to be submissive and unafraid of me, I don't get attacked.

Simple, non-voodoo, common sense, no humanizing (even if I was humanizing, I'd never pick up a guy that cut me off on the interstate, then stopped to cuss at me).

 

[Blue]

My little roos just turned 5 weeks old today. I wonder if it's too late to start the tummy rub thing? Probably. So far, my little guys are sweet (well, most of the brabanters are kind of stand-offish, and I can't tell which of them is the roo yet) and like to use me as a roost

, but who knows how they'll be in the future.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
I don't believe you are being smart-alecky, and I respect your point of view. I just know what has worked for me personally, so this isn't coming from some overly sensitive and weirdo point of view.

All I know is:

If I do anything to scare or hurt my roosters, they learn to fear and hate me. Fear triggers certain instincts in roosters that often lead to violence. If it didn't, we'd have a lot less roosters dead from fighting off predators to save the flock. If you make yourself a source of fear, you will be attacked. There is no new-aged mindreading involved, just understanding the animal you are working with. You wouldn't smack a lion on the nose like you would a dog, it triggers a different reaction because they're different animals.

If I raise my roosters from day one to be submissive and unafraid of me, I don't get attacked.

Simple, non-voodoo, common sense, no humanizing (even if I was humanizing, I'd never pick up a guy that cut me off on the interstate, then stopped to cuss at me).

I wonder if we are really talking about two different behaviors that seem similar to us.

You just described fear based attacks. I had previously discussed dominance-based attacks. I had not thought much about the fear-based angle. I assumed that everything would just work similarly because of my experiences when I alarm one of the hens. The rooster comes running to investigate, ready to fight, but when he sees that I am the cause, he backs down from initiating a challenge.

Some people have talked about petting a rooster to remove fear. I have talked about petting a rooster to crash his status and dominate him.

I think it may be very fruitful to look more carefully and rooster behavior in the context of dominance and in the context of fear (fight-or-flight).

This just got even more interesting!

 

[ChickyLoo]

This did get more interesting, fascinating even

no too roos are alike is what I'm learning! To tbe poster that asked if it was too late it's certainly worth a try, plus it's fun to pet their tummies...heeeee

 

[epeloquin]

When it comes to dominant behavior I don't see a thing wrong with a swat with a broom. If there is a cockerel getting too big for his britches the roo will flog him to put him in his place and that CAN be violent. To give such a cock a swat, not too hurt nor harm, but to establich dominance is not cruel.

The fact is people in general have a very bad habit of anthropomorphism (to assign human qualities to non-human entities) when it comes to animals. Dressing up their dogs in people like clothes or suggesting that we know how our chickens "feel" about something we've done or not done. Nothing good comes from doing this because animals don't feel or have emotions...they react, we respond. One of the many benefits of the wonderfully complex brain that the Good Lord gave us.

I better quit before I go off on a socio-political rant!

 

[ketcham]

I have a roo thats getting mean towards me and the flock.He has been seperated tonight.I will not stand for a mean bird in the flock or towards me.I do feed them and take care of them.You bite the hand that feeds you,,,you die!!![ok 3 strike rule]Kevin

 

[RoosterRidge]

Big Rick bit me good yesterday and I have caught him pulling on the girls.
They hollar like he is really hurting them.
He only bit me because I was trying to get him off one of the girls.
He was not trying to mate he was just being a bully.
Well I fussed and he let me know real quick that he would bite me just as he did my husband.
I am wondering if this is because of the hot weather we have been having.
We keep fresh water for them to have.
Plus I give them frozen watermelon each day to keep them cool.
When he bit me I really was just shocked because he never has done anything to me.
I am wondering also if this is his testosterone geting the best of him.
This is the first time we have raised chickens and we love having a roo.
I thought this was pretty funny until he drew blood from me.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I'm pretty sure weather has nothing to do with repeat-offending. The rooster is mean. He's going to bite. As I mentioned earlier, I tried several things over the course of the last few years to stop, prevent, and discourage aggressive behavior. Nothing ever worked. And at a certain point in a chicken's life, it can certainly become 'too late' to fix any behaviors at all. It's often said-and I believe it-that a rooster's mean behavior can become worse when they turn a year old. Hormones and whatnot.

Yes, he is going to bite again. You have every right to pull him off the girls, as a human, but he thinks he is in charge, so yes, he bit. Weather related, I think not. Testosterone, possibly. You are a threat to him, one that he does not fear.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Best and most realistic post I've seen. That's the same that I have experienced in 20 years of raising chicken.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
Wow!! When I first got my cockerel he was on the roost with the flock & bit me no blood it was kinda like he was testing me. I took my finger & thumped him might of been in his head can't remember he has never bit me since. Its really hard to determine the correct approach with a rooster. Sounds like their all different. I always take inconsideration that my now rooster is really just doing what I got him for to protect the flock. I on the other hand commend him for this but I will always let him know that I'm the main man. If my rooster tries to harm me I guarantee my first reaction is to hit him. I know yall say this is wrong but I'm not letting this big over grown chicken hurt me. I've hit him before & I'll hit him again If I have to. Its not a full on hit because he's always on the run. To this day I can go get him off the roost when there's still alot of daylight left & take him out of the coop & pet him Or whatever I want to do with him. Mind you I don't beat my chickens but I will not let them hurt me. My young pullets nip at me I thump them back I'm not hurting them just letting them know that this behaviour is not right. They normally catch on real quick & quit. It works for me.